Africans Dominate at Boston Marathon

Kenyan runner captures the men's title; Ethiopian finishes first for the women

African runners dominated Monday at the 114th running of Boston Marathon. Kenya's Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot captured the men's title in record time, while Ethiopia's Teyba Erkesso won the women's title.

Cheruiyot, 21, completed the 42.2-kilometer course in two hours, five minutes and 52 seconds. Despite a hamstring problem late in the race, Cheruiyot shattered by 82 second the old record of 2:07:14, set by the unrelated Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot four years ago.

Tekeste Kedebe of Ethiopia finished second, crossing the finish line 1:31 later. Third place went to another Ethiopian runner, defending champion Deribe Merga, clocking in at 2:08:39.

On the women's side, Teyba Erkesso outsprinted Russia's Tatyana Pushkareva to win the women's race in two hours, 26 minutes and 11 seconds. Pushkareva crossed the finish line three seconds later to earn second place. Defending champion Salina Kosgei of Kenya was third at 2:28:35.

South African Ernst Van Dyk edged American Krige Schabort to win the men's wheelchair race in a sprint finish. He wrapped up his record ninth Boston Marathon wheelchair title in one hour, 26 minutes and 53 seconds, four seconds ahead of Schabort.

The women's wheelchair champion for the fourth year in a row is Wakako Tsuchida of Japan. She won with a time of one hour, 43 minutes and 32 seconds. Diane Roy of Canada was second, 3:36 back.